Pupils on track for bike fun

Nearly 100 kids from the central region took to the track yesterday for the annual Super Sport mountainbike race.

Pupils from Wanganui Intermediate, Palmerston North Intermediate, Monrad Intermediate, Ross Intermediate [both Palmerston North] and Masterton Intermediate took part in the age-group races at the Pauri Lake tracks.

Organiser Nigel McIlroy said mountainbiking was one of a number of sports that students compete in for the Super Sport competition. The others are netball, hockey, rugby, football, basketball.

Mr McIlroy said he was particularly pleased to see 98 riders competing in the races.

"It's growing every year. The Year 8 boys is a big race - we've got 42 riders competing in that race.

"We're really pleased to see the kids from Masterton Intermediate. It's a long way for them to come but they've sent two vanloads over, which is great."

The riders rode the 3km course, which twisted and turned through pine forest, twice, except for the Year 8 boys who rode it three times.